Merchant Navy officer
The Merchant Navy is the collective name for the UK’s commercial shipping industry. However, it is actually composed of individual companies who are responsible for their own recruitment and training.
Merchant Navy officers are employed on the many types of vessels that make up the UK commercial shipping industry. These include: ferries; cruise ships; cargo container ships; oil, gas and chemical tankers, and other bulk cargo carriers; and a wide range of vessels designed for specialised supply, support and rescue roles.
Merchant Navy officers are primarily leaders and managers. However, as well as managing staff, senior officers are still expected to perform practical tasks with their colleagues.
Your rank and the size of the vessel you are working on will affect your duties. On a smaller ship, activities will be more hands-on, whereas on a larger ship, the role tends to be more managerial.
A deck/navigation officer's typical work activities include:
An engineering officer's typical work activities include:
The activities of all officers include:
The Merchant Navy recruits graduates as officer trainees (either deck/navigation officer or engineering officer), offering training and development leading to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Certificate of Competency (CoC). All training includes a residential course at a nautical college or university, interspersed by periods spent at sea.
Graduate entry onto an engineering officer programme will provide exemptions from some aspects of the training scheme (which may accelerate the route to qualification as an engineering officer) with the following degrees:
Opportunities may be available on cruise ships and passenger ferries for graduates in catering, hospitality, business, performance or entertainment, and cruise companies should be contacted directly.
A number of shipping companies sponsor candidates on a three-year Merchant Navy Foundation Degree (MNFD) course, which also includes study for the Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency. The training is fully paid for by the sponsoring company and includes a training salary. The foundation degree (Professional Diploma in Scotland) can lead to an honours degree. Entry requirements for an MNFD course are 120 UCAS points at A-level plus good GCSE grades in English, maths and physics or dual/combined science. For a list of colleges/universities running the programmes and a list of employers offering sponsorship, see CareersatSea.org .
Entry into officer training may be possible with an HND in a relevant subject. Similarly, experience and qualifications gained within the fishing industry or the Royal Navy may be recognised or accredited towards MCA requirements. Candidates are assessed on an individual basis and should make their own application for exemptions from the academic and practical aspects of officer training.
Although pre-entry experience is not essential, evidence of team work, for example through involvement in activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award , Sea Cadets , boating/sailing (sometimes offered through university clubs and societies) and other youth activity membership, will strengthen your application.
Competition for entry into training is quite high, with around 800 - 900 places available each year. Candidates with the above experience are likely to stand out.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
All applicants for Merchant Navy officer training must be in good health and pass a pre-employment medical examination. A good standard of eyesight is required for entry as a deck officer.
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During the initial officer training programme, a Merchant Navy officer is required to gain a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Certificate of Competency (CoC) as an Officer of the Watch (OOW).
Additional skills and experience will be gained whilst on the job, under the supervision of more senior officers.
The Merchant Navy provides clear training routes to enable progression from the junior level OOW to more senior levels. The next MCA level of competency is recognised through the award of the chief mate or second engineer certificate. The highest level of competency is master’s or chief engineer’s certificate.
Progression to each rank within the Merchant Navy also allows individuals to gain nationally recognised academic or vocational qualifications in addition to the MCA certificates of competency.
Colleges, universities and specialist training organisations provide training courses for serving Merchant Navy officers in areas such as safety legislation. Sponsorship may be available through shipping companies or through maritime training organisations.
The Marine Society also offers a range of courses enabling you to continue your education whilst working. For example, they provide a distance learning route which enables you to top up your HND or foundation degree into a Bachelors degree, or for more senior officers with a Class 1 Certificate of Competency, to top up to a Masters degree.
Membership of a relevant professional body, for example the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (ImarEST) or The Nautical Institute , is useful in terms of training, networking and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities. Some sponsoring companies will provide student membership of these bodies.
Qualification as a Merchant Navy officer can lead to opportunities throughout the entire UK Merchant Navy fleet. The marine sector is growing and there are strong prospects for work. The majority of those undertaking officer training programmes are employed on completion of the course. There are also opportunities to work for shipping companies based overseas.
The Merchant Navy provides a range of career paths, with opportunities at sea and onshore. As a qualified deck or engineering officer, and with further training and experience, you can gain the qualifications required to sail as captain or as chief engineer officer. It generally takes an additional six years to achieve these qualifications.
Career development will often depend on the employing shipping company and the kinds of vessels it operates.
Membership of a relevant professional body, for example the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (ImarEST) or The Nautical Institute , can aid career development. Engineering officers may choose to follow the route to chartership with ImarEST. Obtaining chartered status demonstrates that you have a good level of experience and professionalism, as well as a commitment to the profession.
Whilst some Merchant Navy officers remain at sea for their entire careers, others gain posts within the marine industry onshore. Many companies manage their own ships and control all aspects of ship operations. Opportunities therefore exist in management roles in a range of operations, e.g. fleet, logistics coordination and training, marine, engineering and general.
It is possible for those with experience to move into the wider marine industry, where there is a demand for their qualifications and expertise. Opportunities include:
For further information on opportunities in the wider marine industry, see CareersatSea.org .
At sea, Merchant Navy officers are employed in an engineering or navigation capacity on the whole range of sea-going vessels. These include the following major types:
Ashore, they may work in a management, administrative or operational role across a wide range of business and commerce. Employers include:
Merchant Navy officers can also gain similar work with overseas-based shipping companies.
Contact shipping companies directly for details of their sponsorship schemes and vacancies. Most companies take on a specific number of cadets for specific roles every year. The companies vary widely in their size and nature, offering different types of working environments.
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